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Realizing my dream

“When I was a teenager I told my best friend that one day I would write down my dad’s life story. A complex family legend in which happiness and tragedy and the unbreakable bond between my dad and my grandma are central. I have been asking my dad to tell me his story over and over and over again. But he had to turn 86 years old and I needed to go on my own life journey before I was ready to turn my dream into reality.”

Keeping myself accountable

These are the first sentences of the Author’s note of the novel I am finally writing. On January 2nd 2017 I started interviewing my dad via Skype, who lives in France and I’m in BC Canada. Today, 1.5 years later and with the tremendous support of my coach Nanda Huneman, who is a writer herself, my book is starting to gain serious shape. I am writing it in Dutch, my mother tongue but will eventually have it translated into English and other languages.

The story takes place in Dutch Indie between 1910 and 1956. It is different to the stories about Indie you might have heard before, the ones the Dutch would tell you. That is because my dad’s family wasn’t Dutch. They were Austrians, immigrants from Vienna. My dad was born in Bandung, Java, in 1931. His roots were there. He had never ever been to Europe. During WWII they were treated as ‘dangerous Germans’ even though they weren’t German and had lived most of their adult life in Indie.

It’s an intriguing story, sometimes hard to wrap your head around especially when you’re of Dutch descent, as I have noticed through the reactions of my Dutch coach. I set a challenge with her, to have the first version of my book, complete with Epilogue, finished by the end of August. This post helps me to keep me accountable and reach my goal. I am determined to publish my book. And I hope you are going to read it! To be continued 😉

About Birgit Treipl

Hi I'm Birgit Treipl and I am a certified coach and small business consultant. I am a living example of going after inspired dreams. I make things happen. And I want that for you as well! I value connection, laughter, freedom, vitality, nature and courage. My clients know that I will hold them gently while I also expect them to be committed and work for their goals. By putting in the hard work is how we transform and how we’ll find meaning and fulfillment in life.

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About The Author

Birgit Treipl, Life Coach and Small Business consultant, 20 years of entrepreneurship and trained by the Coaches Training Institute. Inspiring you, supporting you and holding you accountable for your goals!